Reporting has been rife since the decision to stop Bunnings using facial recognition technology (FRT), was made earlier this month by the Administrative Review Tribunal.  The decision comes after the initial call made by Privacy Commissioner Carly Kind in 2024, finding Bunnings had breached privacy laws by using the technology.  Many publications picked up on the item, including the ABC, and tech industry outfits Channel News and Information Age. CyberDaily’s Deputy Editor, David Hollingworth, told Influencing that they thought the case was a tough one, having initially been against the implementation of the tech, primarily because Bunnings’ initially implemented it without the knowledge of customers.  “But at the end of the day, if you've got violent customers with access to the products that Bunnings holds, you don't have a lot of other recourse. You need to have a list of these people,” said Hollingworth. “We've all gone into shops over the years and seen a photo

Behind every powerful news photograph lies a moment of calculation. Not just of light or composition, but of risk, responsibility and consequence. For photojournalists covering protests, disasters, and conflict zones, the camera is both a tool and a shield. Conversations with three experienced photojournalists reveal a profession shaped as much by ethics and awareness as by instinct and courage. For senior photojournalist Jagatdeep Singh, entering a risky assignment is never casual. Before stepping into the field, his preparation is mental as much as technical. “Safety comes first, followed closely by ethical responsibility and strategic thinking.” He speaks of mentally checking gear, assessing security conditions, and rehearsing worst-case scenarios. “Situational awareness ultimately determines whether one keeps shooting or chooses to step back.” There are moments, Singh acknowledges, when walking away becomes unavoidable. Abandoning an assignment can feel like failur

The X account of Azad Essa, a US-based South African journalist and senior reporter with Middle East Eye, has reportedly been withheld in India following a government order under the Information Technology Act. According to Madhyamam, Essa said he received an email from X on February 20 stating that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had invoked Section 69A of the IT Act to restrict access to his handle within India. The email said the account would remain accessible outside India and advised him of legal remedies. Essa said no specific reason was provided and described the move as concerning, linking it to his reporting on India–Israel ties.

Morning and welcome to Thursday on a day when the News Corp titles go in heavy on Treasurer Jim Chalmers as inflation remains - as one pundit put it - 'sticky', and there are fears of more interest rate rises. The Australian leads the charge. It's front pager by Thomas Henry and Richard Ferguson ('Spend big: PM's 'ticket' to reform) doesn't exactly thunder as it lays out the situation but the masthead has the advantage of Albo appearing at the Herald Sun’s Future Victoria Conference in Melbourne, where the PM said he needed to follow through with the big spending items to show Australians that the economy “works for them”. There's also a picture of the PM at the conference by Martin Ollman for News Corp's Newswire.  The News Corp tabloids do come out swinging with a punchier story - at least in terms of the language used - by John Rolfe which makes its appearance in The Daily

Prasar Bharati has invited applications for the allotment of vacant MPEG-4 slots on the DD Free Dish platform for the period from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027. The public broadcaster will conduct the allotment through its 8th annual (97th overall) online e-auction, which is tentatively scheduled for March 16, 2026 . According to the notice issued on February 9, the e-auction will be carried out in line with the E-auction Methodology 2025, including its latest amendments. Only satellite television channels permitted and licensed by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will be eligible to participate. International public broadcasters licensed by the ministry can also take part in the auction. The vacant slots have been categorised into multiple buckets based on genre and language, including HD channels, regional language channels, news and current affairs channels, non-news channels, and general open categories. Reserve prices for MPEG-4 slots vary across buckets, starti

Estée Lauder has appointed WPP as its global media agency, consolidating media duties across its portfolio of brands, including MAC, Clinique, and the flagship Estée Lauder line. WPP was selected for its track record in innovative media solutions and a deep understanding of global market dynamics. Under the new partnership, WPP will manage media buying across all markets for the company, according to media reports. The announcement comes on the back of a strong fiscal 2026 second-quarter performance, with Estée Lauder reporting a 6 per cent increase in net sales to US$4.2 billion. Gross margin expanded to 76.5 per cent, up 40 basis points from the previous quarter, supported by net benefits from the company’s Profit Recovery and Growth Plan (PRGP). These gains were partially offset by incremental tariffs, shifts in business mix, and inflationary pressures. For the six months ending 31 December 2025, net cash flows from operating activities rose significan

Mar-tech network Wondrlab is reportedly in discussions to acquire advertising agency Madison World, though no deal has been confirmed. Saurabh Varma, Founder and CEO of Wondrlab, said the agency is actively evaluating acquisition opportunities as part of its strategy to scale and strengthen its platform-first, full-funnel marketing offerings, according to Social Samosa.   Wondrlab, launched in November 2020, has completed multiple acquisitions, including creative, influencer, performance marketing, and tech firms, both in India and internationally. Madison, founded by Sam Balsara, is reportedly valued at around Rs 1,000 crore. A successful deal would mark the largest Indian agency acquisition by another Indian firm. Madison has previously drawn interest from global groups including WPP, Publicis, Dentsu, and Havas.